Trent Dilfer’s time at UAB was short, loud, and maybe somehow underwhelming. A Super Bowl-winning QB turned high school guru stepped into the college ranks. It sounded wild enough to work. But two seasons, nine wins, and far too many sideline meltdowns later, the Blazers have hit eject. And when the smoke cleared, so did the checkbook.

On October 12, UAB Football posted Athletic Director Mark Ingram’s statement on X where he announced, “We have made a decision to part ways with Head Football Coach Trent Dilfer. We agree that — unfortunately — our on-field performance has not lived up to the standard of winning we have for the program.” The Blazers sit at 2-4, their only wins coming against Alabama State and Akron. The latest embarrassment is a 53-33 drubbing by Florida Atlantic. That loss sealed the deal. 

But firing a head coach doesn’t just mean packing his office. It also means opening the checkbook. Trent Dilfer’s contract ran through 2027, and he was pulling in $1.45 million this season, per USA TODAY Sports. His buyout is a hefty $2.8 million as of December 1, 2025. The good news for UAB is that the sum will be paid in monthly installments, making the financial blow a bit easier to stomach.

Still, it’s a wild ride for a program like UAB. For context, this isn’t Alabama or Georgia money we’re talking about. This is UAB, a program that’s fought tooth and nail just to stay relevant since its football resurrection in 2017. A $2.8 million buyout hits differently here especially for a coach who never cracked four wins in a season. But to be fair, Trent Dilfer didn’t come out of nowhere.

Trent Dilfer went from Elite 11 to empty stadiums

Before landing at UAB, Trent Dilfer made waves at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville and co-founded the Elite 11 where he molded future NFL arms. UAB rolled the dice anyway, hoping his NFL aura would attract recruits and his fiery energy would spark a turnaround. Instead, the Blazers got more frustration than fireworks. Now, his coaching future might need another reboot. 

UAB’s gamble on a Super Bowl champ turned into an expensive lesson in experience over excitement. Trent Dilfer’s NFL resume didn’t translate to the AAC grind, and while his future in coaching might find another reboot, the Blazers are left paying for a dream that never materialized, a lighter wallet, and the clock ticking on who’s next. For now, offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen steps in as interim coach, tasked with steadying a ship that’s been taking on water since Week 1.

But with $2.8 million still due and a search for their eighth head coach, UAB faces the same question every fired coach leaves behind. What’s next and who’s brave enough to take the job?